Today, it’s not only important to expose young people to volunteerism; it’s key to also focus on service in the academic context to yield both learning and service outcomes. An intentional emphasis should be placed on reflection and connecting the service experience with learning objectives so youth can gain a deeper understanding of why the reason for volunteering.

For most families, college planning is the norm; however, this often isn’t the reality for students living in underserved, marginalized communities. As the educational and economic gaps continue widening in our community, more than ever, it’s imperative to expose local male youth to environments outside of their daily scope of living.